Clasp



(No Model.)

. M. E. KNIGHT CLASP.

Patented Oct 14, 1884.

[NVENTOR ATTO RN EY UNITED. STATES ATENT FFICEO MARGARET E. KNIGHT, OF ASHLAND, MASSAOHUSFJTTSS.

CLASP. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,692, dated October 14, 1884.

Application filed July 28,1884. -(No modehT To all'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARGARET E. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Robes and Textile Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device for clasping one or more thicknesses of robes or textile fabric for the purpose of holding the same in any required position, either as a detached clasp for uniting the otherwise free edges of said robe or sheet of fabric or as a means of attachment from the end of a flexible connection to a fixed point, or from said connection provided with means for securing its other end.

Myinvention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows my invention applied as a means of securing a robe or blanket to a vehicle and around the person of an occupant. Fig. 2 is a perspective view in side elevation of my 0 evicc, having therefrom a flexible connection; and Fig. 3 is a partial section of the same, showing the jaws grasping a single sheet of textile fabric.

A B are spring opposing jaws, consisting of loops lying in the same or parallel planes when in an operative position, and adapted to have the outer perimeter of one constitute a bind ing-surface with the inner edge of the other of corresponding configuration, and adapted to have one received within the other to inelose one or more layers of a flexible sheet, to bind the same between the COIIGSPOl'lCllIlg clamping-edges of the jaws, and to cause the com-- pressed sheet orsheets to form a bight over the'loop of the larger jaw. I11 Fig. 2 said jaws are shown removed, and in Fig. 3 the same are shown in operative position.

a b are arms from the loop-jaws A B, and adapted to permit the one, A, to be received within the one, B.

O is a cross-head uniting the arms a b. The arm I) is rigidly secured at o to the head 0, and is prolonged to form in rear of said head an eye, (Z, and a bindingspring, h. The cross head is formed of two walls, between which, and intermediate to the arms a Z), plays the binding-spring h. One end of arm a is fulcrunied between the walls of head Q, and is provided, in contact with spring h, with an angular cam, i, adapted, in connection with the binding-spring, to cause the jaw A to be held widely distended or thrown from a certain point of distention to be held in a closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, where E represents a single thickness of fabric held between the elampjaws.

e e are serrated edges upon the jaws A B, giving said jaws an increased holding-power.

It is immaterial to the spirit of my invention which of the opposing jaws is received within the other, as either the movable or the fixed one may be the larger, or how the binding-spring, operating in conjunction with the movable jaw, is constructed or arranged, the essential feature of the invention'bein g a hinged spring-aetuated loop-jaw adapted'to operate in combination with a fixed loop-jaw, for the purpose described.

The clasp thus provided forms an exceedi'ngly strong easily-operated means of securing a horse-cover under the animals neck or to any part of the harness, as well as a clasp eminently useful in numerous other instances where a detached clamp is needed.

In Fig. 2 a portion of a flexible connection,

II, is shown attached to the eye (I, by means of which the clasp may be permanently secured to anyobject, to have through said connection any required latitudeof movement.

In Fig. 1 a flexible connection, II, is shown fixed to a buggy, to have the clasp upon its free end hold the robe upon one side of a person driving, a clasp similarly arranged serving to secure the other side of said robe, to leave it smoothly spread over the person to require no part of the attention.

By making the connection H also elastic a freedom of movement will be given the person inclosed by a carriage-robe without a displacement of the same.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The within-describedclasp for holding robes or fabrics, consisting of two spring-opposed jaws in the form of loops adapted to be received one within the other, to lie, when so closed, in the same or contiguous approximately parallel planes, two arms having said loops for their free ends and arranged therewith to permit one loop to pass within the other, as described, a spring formed upon the prolongation ot'said arms from their loop ends, and operating in a direction to hold the loops upon the other ends of said arms together, and a hinge combined and arranged. with said jawactuating spring and adapted to permit said jaws to be minimally distended, all combined and operating as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The improved clasp for robes and textile fabrics, consisting of two opposing loop-jaws adapted to have one received within the other, as set forth, provided with contiguous serrated edges, and having one fixed and one pivoted MARGARET E. KNIGI-I'l.

Vitnesses;

JOHN (J. lIAs'rIxos, Gnonon U. TRAVIS. 

